Signal



Dec. 1, 1931. DOMENO, 1,834,830

SIGNAL 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 4, 1928 ATTOR NEY Dec. 1, 1931. QDOMEMGON] 1,834,830

SIGNAL Filed Sept- 4. 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 VENTOR ATTORNEY Dec. 1,'1931. c. DoMENlGoNl S'IGNAL Filed Sept. 4, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 f l VJ l l lllllll lllllllll. ,gpnd/.l 2122279 illy ATTORNEY Patented Dec. l,1931 CHABILEY, DOMENIGONI, OF SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA SIGNALApplication filed September 4, 1928. Serial No. 303,729.

My present invention hasreference to a traiiic signal designedto beattached to a vehicle and to be operated. by the driver thereof todenote intended change of moveiment ofthe vehicle.

:A further object is the provisionv of a traf- `fic signaling devicewhich may be attached 'to either' the `opened or closed' types ofautomobiles or like vehicles, and which includes a semaphore arm whichis normally sustained by its own weight in a downward` vertical positionbut which Vmay be readily' swung by simple means arranged convenientlywith respectto the driver of the vehicle .to bring the same to differentangles to indicate to Vtraiiic that the vehicle is to stop or is to.turn to either they right or leftand further wherein theA semaphore armis illuminated when turned to any of'such-positions and which willdirect therefrom red. and white rays off light so that the positionofthe; signal and the intention of the driver cannot be mistaken bytraiiic either in front or to the rearof the vehicle. I

The invention willy be fully? and comprehensively understood from -aconsideration of the following detailedfdescription when read in.connectionv with the acompanying drawings which form part of theapplication, with the understanding, however, that the improvement iscapable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showingofthe drawings nor-to the precise construction described and, therefore,such changes and modifications may be made therefrom as do not affectthe spirit of the invention norl exceed the scope thereof as expressedinthe appended claim.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of theimprovement,thedotted lines indicating the various angles at which thesemaphore arm may be swung.

Figure 2 is an approximately central vertical longitudinal sectionalview through the improvement. v

Figure 3 is a top plan view ofthe improvement. f

Figure 4 is a sectional view approximately on the line 1 -4 of Figure1-.

Figure 5 is al fragmentary perspective view. of the pull rod ofinsulating-material with the metal core therein.

Figure 6 is a sectional view approximately von the line 6 6 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a sectional view approximately on the line 7 7 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a sectional view approximately anthe line 8 8 of Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a sectional view approximatelyy on the line 9 9 of Figure 1.

. Figure 10 is a sectional view on they line 10 10 of Figure 11.

Figure 11 is an inner face viewy of the device as disclosed-by Figure,10.

Figure 12 is a detail sectional view to illustrate another manner inwhich the improve- -ment'may be attached on the vehicle.

Then my improvement is arranged upon 4vehiclesy of the open type Iattach toA one of.t

thef-horizontalbars or rods that support the top of the vehicle, ontheleft hand side of the vehicle, a split clamp. 15. The clamp, as amatter-of-fact,A comprises two members, each ofv which has an enlargedportion to engage with the cross sectionally elliptical bar 16 of thevehicle frame and each of the Vsaid members having straight extensionsthrough whichare passed binding means such as an ordinary bolt engagedby a nut. From the arched portions each of the clamp sections isprovided with depending straight arms 17 and 18, respectively', whichare disposed in contacting engagement. The arm 18, on the inner clampsection has its lower end extended angularly, as at 19, and merges intoan upwardly directed flange 20.

The plate 19 and the flange 20 support thereon and have securely fixedthereto a. block 21. By reference to Figure 2`of'the drawings it will beseen that the block 21 has its lower end formed with a reduced extensionwhich is received through the plate 19.

Arranged at a suitable distance from the outer side of the vehicle thereis an upwardly directed-bracket 22. The bracket comprises spacedy sidesconnected at their lower ends, as indicated by the numeral 23 and attheir rear 'edges by aback plate 24. The upper tubular member 26 thathas its ends threaded '.respectively, thesaid plates, .of course,corre-V sponding to the shape of theshell'and'having and engaged by nutsv27 and 28. Arranged aroundthe tubular member 26 and contacting with,the back `plate 24 of the bracket and with the depending plate 17 ofthe ,clamp there is a. spacer sleeve 29. By adjusting the nuts it willbe noted that the bracket 22is lirmly supported onn and -Y spaced fromVthe clamp 15, the binding effect between the nuts `27 and the sleeve 29being suliicient'to holdV 'the 'bracket 22 'from turning on the tube 26,but preferably there is arranged between these elements splines or likedevices topositively prevent the turning of the bracket on the tube. Y

Y Thesemaphore or'signalv member is broadly indicated by the numeral 30.By reference to the drawings vit will be seen -that this member is inthe nature of ashell orframe,

the upper portion of whichlbein'grounded, .as-at' 31, and the lowervportion 32. being of substantially rectangular' t formation, al-

-thoughthev sidewalls of the saidl portion32 cannot turnin the tube 26.-each other'to theA bottom ofthe saidportion -329` TheA sides of thesignal shell or frame are preferably-graduallyinclined away from 30 havetheir inner. edges-'formed with con- :tinuous depressions, the roundeddepressions receiving therein the reduced/and flanged .edges-of redvcolored lensesy 33, while the depressions. in the extendingV or bodyportion 32 ofthe frame or shell receive therein panes f of white or`frosted glass Thesides of the shell or frame are closed byplates 35,

` their rounded portionsprovided with openings for the lenses 34 andtheir body portions providedwithspaced openings 36V-and 37, re-

spectively. 'The opening 36 is of a materially greater length than theopening-37 and these y openings, covering the white or frosted plate(orlenses 34'give the lower or outer portion of the signal the appearanceof a pointed and a bent finger. The plates are removably secured to theshell by 4short bolts or screws 38. Therounded portion of the shell ofthe signal hasits top thickenedinwardly, as at 39, the said thickenedportion having an opening therethrough for the socket 40 of a lamp ybulb 41.

vThe top of the signahto one kside of the socket 40 is integrally formedwith an upwardly directed lug 42 and this lug is pivoted,

"hasy at43, between thev arms 25 of the bracket 22." Secured betweenthearms and designed tobe contacted, by the outer edge-'of the lug v- 42there'vis a stoppin 44y which limits the Vswinging ofthe signal' in itsdownward direc- V which is pivoted, as at 47, between the arms of the:bracket, the said groove pulley 46k having its lower portion arrangedapproximately in va line with the longitudinal axis of the tube 26.` Theinsulating casing for the conductor wires is removed so that the saidwires are gconnected to a metal yrod 48. This rod is 4received inlandprovides a core for aliard rubber or like insulator rod or tubei49whichvis freely guided through thetube 26 and likewise guided through anopening in the blocky 21, f The endof the metal rodfis screwed `into apullhandle-'5O of insulating material, and the said'handlecontacts'andmay be` secured to the'end of the.insulatorftube or rod'49.

'By reference to Figure 9 of the' drawings it: will be seen that theinsulator rod49 ispro- *vided with a longitudinal groove thatreceivestherein :a key or spline 51 carried byv the tube 26 so thatthe said.insulator rod and its Vco-re The insulator rodon its lower face isprovidedl with three spaced notches 52,l 53 and ,54, respectively, theinner wall-of each of the notches being straight and the'outer wallsbeingfarranged atan angle-r These notches com- A municate with themetalrod 48. Y

The'block 21 is of insulatinglinaterial"and has arranged for slidablemovement therein a metal dog 55. This dog is influenced by a'spring 56in the direction of theinsulator kvrod 49. The dog has on-its under facea pull yelement or rod towhich is attachedy an insulating handle 57.*The 'dog is slidable through a metal sleev'e'58 which' is secured in,the block 21, there Vbeing a frictional .en-1v 'gagement between thesaid sleeve and dog, but

notsuficient to prevent-the spring-56 from urging the dog in thedirection'of the rod 49. Attached to the metal sleeve 58 there is theencased wire orwires. 59 that 'are connected;

to the electric system orf-the automobile. The

'dog and its guide sleeve 58 provide acircuit maker. l'

When the device is in its normal'inactive position, as illustrated bythe full lines inl-- 'Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the notch 52is disposed only a slight distance away from the slidable switch ordog55. A pull upon' the knobV or handle 50 will bring the dog or switch 55into the notch 52, causing the said dog or switch to contact with the.metal rod 48 and thus completing a circuit to the lamp bulb 41. Ofcourse, the pulling on the rod 49 'swings thesignal tothelower dottedline position in Figure 1- vof the draw` ings, so that trailic to therear oi the vehicle will be warned that the said vehicle is to stop.Preferably the outer corner of the slidable switch or dog 55 is beveled,as disclosed by Figure 2 of the drawings. This permits of the rod beingdrawn further into the vehicle until the slidable switch or dog 55 isreceived in the second notch 53. This again completes the circuit andswings the signal to its second positon to indicate that the vehicle isto turn to the left. A still further pull upon the rod will bring thecircuit making 'dog or switch 55 into the third notch 54 and against therod 48, the pull upon the rod causing the signal to be swung to itsoutermost position to indicate that the vehicle is to make a turn to theright, and likewise completing the electric circuit to the lamp. In allof its signaling positions it will be noted that the rays of light fromthe lamp will be directed through the red lenses 33 and through thewhite or frosted lenses or plates 34, so that in both night and daydriving traiitic to the front or rear of the vehicle will have fullknowledge ot' the intention of the driver of the vehicle as to anyintended change of movement of the said vehicle.

Obviously a pull must be exerted upon the handle 57 to bring the circuitmaking dog or switch 55 out of the notches in the rod 49, and

' the weight of the signal arm will automatically return the same to itsinitial and unsignaling position.

In Figures 10 and 11 I have illustrated the manner in which the devicemay be attached to the rail of a door 60 of a closed type of vehicle.The construction and operation of parts is similar to that previouslydescribed, except that the insulating block 2l has its inner facenotched to receive therein the inner locking nut 28 for the tubularmember 26 through which is guided the notched insulator rod with themetal core, the block 2l being also xed by screws 61 to the inner faceof the stile of the door, it being understood, of course, that thetubular member 26 passes through the said stile.

In Figure l2 I have shown a different manner of attaching theimprovement to any desired part of a vehicle. In this instance, theconstruction in the main is similar to that previouslydescribed, exceptthat I employ two spaced plates 6263, connected by bolts 64 and arrangedupon the respective outer and inner faces of the vehicle. The tubularmember 65 is similar to the tubes 26 and 26 and is threaded through theinner plates 63 and has vlixed thereon the insulator block 66, similarto the block 21 and 21. The outer plate 62 has its inner face recessedto provide a pocket for a pulley 67 of insulating material, over whichthe cord or cable 45 is trained, the said cable being directed through atube 68 which is screwed or otherwise secured in the lower face of theplate 62.

The cable 45 is suitably guided to the socket 40 in the top of thesignal and the said signal is similar to that previously described.

It should be stated that the white glasses on the signal may beconstructed of Celluloid,

isinglass or other transparent material.

Having described the invention, I claim:

A signal comprising a hollow shell member having transparencies and anupper end weighted by a thickened portion, a supporting arm pivoted tosaid thickened portion at a point to one side of the median longitudinaldimension of the shell member, a socket member passing through saidthickened portion upon the median longitudinal dimension of the shellmember and adapted to support a bulb interiorly of the shell member saidsocket member being disposed transversely across the axis of the pivotalconnection between the arm and the shell, a cord entering the socketmember and a pulling mechanism attached to said cord.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

@HARLEY DOMENIGONI.

